Crafted Process
Every week we bring new creative processes to light through stories and ideas.
You know...we give you the insight of how others make things happen in the creator world. Something you can apply to your own life or creative process. We might help you see a clearer pictures, hack into your mind for better ideas or just enjoy the stories our guests share.
Take a listen...it's always changing.
Crafted Process
How To Turn Pain Into Art?
Heather McGrath is a Boston-based photographer and director whose work blends raw emotion with cinematic style. In this episode, we dive into her decade-long vision for a music video born from heartbreak — and how she finally brought it to life on an LED wall.
Music Video: https://vimeo.com/1114447138
We talk about the realities of filmmaking: picking the right crew, trusting collaborators, surviving feast-or-famine cycles, and the “post-project crash” every creative feels after shipping something big. Heather opens up about turning personal grief into art, why trust is more valuable than gear, and how to navigate a creative career when the industry feels uncertain.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or just someone chasing a creative vision, this episode will hit home.
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:22 – Meet Heather McGrath & Parachute Studios
02:13 – The decade-long idea: heartbreak & sandstorm visions
06:39 – Shooting on LED walls vs. green screen
09:16 – Pitching and building the music video
11:06 – What production on a wall actually takes
17:21 – Trusting your crew & the struggle of letting go
19:55 – Breaking into the “inner circle” of filmmaking
23:31 – Making a big project happen with no budget
24:22 – “Should I just be a locksmith?” — feast & famine in the industry
28:49 – Using (or avoiding) AI in creative projects
34:25 – The obsession with light & color grading
43:51 – Client restrictions & using work in your portfolio
47:59 – The post-project crash & creator depression
51:05 – Workaholism, fear, and growing up without stability
55:36 – Standing out in a crowded creative scene
56:51 – Video games, horror, and unlikely sources of inspiration
01:00:20 – Magazines, film photography & visual style
01:07:08 – Gear talk: RED Komodo, Leica glass & renting gear
01:17:40 – Upcoming fashion film project
01:21:25 – Why personal projects teach the most
01:22:34 – Closing thoughts
Follow Heather McGrath:
https://www.instagram.com/heathermcgrath/
https://heathermcgrath.com/
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Where To Find Sean:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-r-collins/
https://www.instagram.com/jukebooth/
https://www.jukebooth.com/